Planoqrapti co



E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GUNS. APPLICATION FILED FEB-I4. I918.

1,3 10,891. I Patented July 22, 1919.

4 SHEETS--SHEET I.

TIIE COLlMIIIA I'LANOGRAPII 50., WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- !4. 191B.

Patented July 22, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLA NNNNN PH cm, WASHINGTON. n. c,

E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. 1918.

1,3 1 0,891 Patented July 22, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Fig 2.

I: couqmna PLANoaRAmI :0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Patented July 22, 1919.

Ill-Ill J 0 E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-14,1918- THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAP" 60-. WASHINGTON, D. C.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TQSCI-INEIDER & CIE., OF PARIS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING GUNS.

Application filed February 14, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Loading Guns, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for loading guns.

The improved apparatus comprises in the known manner a track, that is to say, a pair of parallel rails, for the travel of a carriage carrying the gun charge. The essential feature of the present invention consists in that the said track is hinged at its rear end to the gun carriage, preferably at a point sulficiently low to allow of easy access thereto, while the forward end of the said track carries one of the elements of a catch or coupling for which the gun carriage on the one hand and the gun cradle 011 the other each carry a complementary element. The construction and arrangement of the catch element carried by the track and the construction and arrangement of the two complementary elements are such that the element carried by the gun cradle will assure in the elevating movements of the gun barrel toward a variable loading position, a disengagement between the gun carriage and the track, at the same time as the latter is moved by reason of the connection which is effected between the track and the gun cradle. Inversely, the return of .the gun barrel into a determined inclination will effect the opening of the connection between the gun cradle and the track, and the closing of the connection between the track and the gun carriage.

A practical embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun provided with the improved apparatus, the loading track being shown coupled to the gun cradle in a suitable position for the transference of the gun charges into the breech chamber of the gun.

Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding thereto.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the loading track connected to the gun carriage, for which purpose the gun bar- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Serial No. 217,196.

rel has been brought into a suitable position of inclination.

Figs. 4L to 9 illustrate on a larger scale the details of the elements for coupling the loading track to the gun cradle and to the gun carriage.

F 4; is a sectional elevation showing the coupling member carried by the track in engagement with the gun carriage; the complementary member carried by the gun cradle being in the position where it commences to act to open the coupling between the track and the gun carriage.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the member carried by the track disconnected from the gun carriage, and in the position it occupies the instant before it has come into engagement with the complementary element carried by the gun cradle.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. l, showing the coupling member carried by the track disconnected from the complementary member carried by the gun carriage and engaged with the complementary member carried by the gun cradle.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line VIIVII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section on the line VIIIVIII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line IXIX of Fig. 3. This Fig. 9 is drawn to the same scale as Figs. 4 to 8.

As shown, the improved apparatus comprises a track consisting of two parallel rails A, A hinged at their rear ends to the gun carriage, for instance to the trail tail in gun carriages of the trail type. The joint of each of the rails A preferably consists as shown in detail in Fig. 9, of a boss a fixed to the rail and adapted to move about a removable aXle pin B carried by a block C fixed to the trail tail C.

Each of the rails of the track jointed in this manner carries at its front end one of the elements of a coupling. In the example shown, this element consists of a bolt adapted to move in a box D fixed to the rail A. This bolt is of the double action type, that is to say, with its tail E it is capable of engaging with a catch G fixed to or formed on the gun carriage, while with its head F it is adapted to engage the coupling member H carried by the gun cradle J.

I is a spring having a constant tendency to push the bolt EF in the forward direc tion. Normally, the projection of the bolt head F is prevented by the engagement of the tail E with the catch G (Figs. 3 and 4).

The coupling element H may, as shown, consist of a simple finger formed on or fixed to the cradle J. The bolt head F has a notch f for engaging the finger H. This notch f is shaped so as to comprise an inclined surface f over which the finger H slides in order to become disengaged from the notch. Below the said notch ff. the head F comprises an inclined surface f over which the finger H slides for the purpose of pushing the bolt toward the rear in order to disengage the tail E from the catch G.

The members being in the position shown in Fig. 3, that is to say, the track AA being coupled to the gun carriage, the opening of the coupling between the said track and the gun carriage, and its elevation into the requisite position for loading the gun, are effected automatically by the elevation of the gun barrel. As soon as the fingers Hv arrive in the position shown in Fig. 4, in the elevating movement of the gun barrel and. the cradle, the fingers H in acting upon the inclined surfaces f of the bolt heads F, push the bolts FE toward the rear and thus allow the tails E to become disengaged from the catches G (Fig. 5). As soon asthe fingers H have left the inclined surfaces F, the springs I in the expanding will bring the bolt heads into engagement with the said fingers (Figs. 6 and 7), the length of the path for effecting this engagement being by the way shorter than the path of the rearward movement impartedto the bolts in order to disengage them from the catches G. From this moment the rails A are carried along by the cradle J, and they turn on the axle pins B. The whole of the cradle and the loading track carried along by it may be arrested at a variable loading angle (Figs. 1 and 2). The continuity of the rolling track for the rollers or wheels m of the loading carriage M may be assured by, pro viding a sort of scarfing between the forward end of eachof the rails A and the rear endof the rails J of the cradle J, as shown clearly in Fig. 7.

It will be readily understood that it the gun barrel be moved to a suitable angle where its breech moves down between the sides of the gun carriage (Fig. 3), the disconnection between the notches and the fingers H will be produced automatically, and the fingers H will push the bolts toward the rear (Fig. 5) and then allow the tails of the bolts to engage the catches (1, thereby resuming the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

[he articulation of the loading track and its automatic connection with the gun cradle and the gun carriage respectively, allow oi bringing the track into the low position shown in Fig. 3 where it does not interfere at all with the dismounting of the gun barrel. The changes in the position of the track take place without requiring the slightest labor.

The track A-A may be dismounted by a sim )le withdrawal of the axle pins 13.

W hat I claim is In. an apparatus for loading guns, the combination with the gun carriage and with the gun cradle located on the latter, of a track for the travel of a loading carriage carrying the gun charge, pivoted at its rear end to the gun carriage, a complementary coupling element on the gun carriage, a similar complementary coupling element on the gun cradle, and a coupling element on the front end of said t 'ack adapted to engage each of said complementary coupling elements, whereby the mere elevation of the breech of the gun barrel into any desired loading position, will open the coupling between said track and the gun carriage, and move said track into position for loading; while the mere return of the gun barrel into a determined position of elevation will open the coupllng between said track and the gun cradle, and close the coupling between said track and the gun carriage.

In. testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

Vitnesses ANDRE Mos'rroxnn, CHAS. P. PRESSLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

